Ice-making machine



E. C. WALSH ICE-MAKING MACHINE Oct. 14, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril 14, 1948 INVENTOR. EDWARD C. WALSH Patented Oct. 14, 1952 UNITED`.S'TAT ES PAT ENT O F F I C E rationof 'Delaware Application'rApril 14,1948,A Serial No. 20,942

8` Claims.

Thisinvention relates` to improvements in` ma,.- chines. for producing,flaled or. chipped ice or flakes of. other` similarA frozenl orcongealedma.- terials of comparable consistency andother relatedproperties..

Machines capable of4 effectivelyE producing ice in this form are-`highly, in demand,y due to the fact. tha-.t there is; a. greatrdemandfor. this type of` ice and. furthermore, its manufacture in this formisconsiderably cheaper than to.14 manufacture it.A in the. formof'blocksi. due tothe lesser amount.y of` refrigeration. requirements;

invention is particularly anv improvement iny that .type of. chipped.ice manufacturing machine .wherein the iceA is f'rozenA on ,ap surfaceand then is causedf to be sheared from the-surface or otherwise-.freedfrom` thevv surface by having. the bond between the ice and the freezingsurface broken.

rIlhe primary objectoff.l my, inventionis to provide zin-,improvedmachine of thecharacter described wherein thearrangement forshearing offthe ice-, thatis,I freeing itfrom the.l freezing surface is veryeffective; It isan object of: the..` invention. to achievethischaracteristicv while. at the; samel time providing avmachine whichlis positivein action throughout its operation, A.which isas. compactaspossible and which haslow power requirements, especiallyd for effectingvthe ice removing action'. Freeing the icefrom the freezing. surface hasin: the:- past: been. one `of the` maiordifculties,sinceethe iceadheresto the; surface quite tenaciouslyp and it has been. found diflifcult toremove itwi-thout'utilization of large amount-s of power and withoutresorting tomechanism's; susceptible to; failure and rapiddeterioration4 underv conditions of. continual; service,

Another object of4 my; invention is; to, provideV a machine ofthe.character described, which is.: of simple'y construction, making it;eas-v` to;V repair and replaceyparts..

Another object-,of ther.` invention istto: provide a machine of theclass described: wherein the ice freezing surfacev is injthaforniV of:a. platea` having thercharacteristic that. it, can be, bulged or bowedout. of' a planeA inY a manner. thatJ itsv curva.- ture can be changedfrom concave to.- convex, the change` in. curvature of the plate being`such. as to causeica frozen, to the plate to.b.e sheared. off when it`is. bulged or buckled from one.l side of said. plane.. to the,- other..

Another object of theinvention is. toy provide. a machine as intheforegoing. object. whereinI the plate or freezing surface is associated,with. a freezing or coolingunit. havingv a curved surface (Cl.l (i2-107)2 cclnnorming, to the bulged surface of the freezing p a e.

Another object. of the invention is` to provide amachinev as in. theforegoing objects wherein the freezing plate` or surface forms a sidewall of apressure. chamber in which the freezing unit is located withpumping means for changing the pressure in thepressure chamber to causethe freezing plate tol bevalternately dished or bulged against thefreezing unit, and dished or bulged awayv from the freezing unit tocause the ice t'o beA sheared. off therefrom.

AnotherA object of' the inventionis to provide a machine as. thevforegoing wherein thefice freezing surfaceisin theformof a snap dischaving.I associatedy therewith a` freezing unit having asurface shaped@toconform to the disc` when the discis, in one. of itsover-centerpositions.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a-machine asfintheforegoing object wherein a timed mechanical!` actuating device isprovided for periodically` snapping the disc over center.

Another objectof the. invention is to provide a machine of. the, classdescribed wherein thefreezingt surfaceforms one side wall of anevaporator unitfofA a refriger'ating' system and has the characteristic.of being. operable to have its shape or configuration changed" fromconcave to convex as a. result ofthe changes in pressure within theevaporator unit. j

Another. Object ofthe invention, is to provide a machine asl in theforegoing object wherein a connection isV providedto admit' highpressure refri'gerant, from the system into the4 evaporator toincreasethe pressure therein, andi an automatic timing device`controlling` said connection so as tozperiodically change, the pressurein the evaporator in aa manner to] cause. the iceto be. freed fromthe-ifreezing surface.

Further objects.- and.numerous. of: the advantages ofmy'inventionwillbecome apparent from the following; detailedv description and annexeddrawings wherein I Figure; 1, isa cross-sectional view of a. formrof ofmy invention'. wherein the iceV4 freezing surfacelis a snaps. disc.

Figure 2` is1 a. sectional. View ofi along the lineH2'--2'l of Figurey1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view'of av second form of myA inventionutili-zing different. typesA of freezing surfaces; Y f

Figure iL is a sectional view of' the machine of Figure 3l taken; alongthe` line iff-4l.

Figuref5` is` a. cross-sectional viewof a third Figure 1-; taken 3 formof my invention wherein the freezing surface forms one side wail of anevaporator unit.

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

From the foregoing it will be understood that my invention comprehendsbroadly the concept of freezing water or other matter, on a surfacewhich is capable of having its shape or configuration changed so thatupon the changing of such configuration after the ice has been frozenthereon, it is caused to be sheared off as a result of the changingshape. The invention comprehends broadly a freezing surface which can bebuckled, deformed, or bowed outwardly from a plane and then sprung orbuckled again. Refrigeration or cooling may be applied, preferably toone side of the surface in various ways and certain preferred manners ofso doing will be shown. The invention comprehends the concept ofproviding means operative to cause the bulging, deforming, or dishing ofthe freezing surface necessary to cause the ice to be sheared therefrom.This operation may be performed by mechanical means or other equivalentmeans, such as pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders or by applying gaseouspressure to the freezing surface itself. The invention comprehends afreezing surface formed of a metal which can be duistended or` aflexible material which can be distended or expanded.

Referring more specifically to the drawings in Figure l, numeral 9represents an insulated compartment within which is disposed the icefreezing mechanism and the compartment having doors 8 through which theaccumulated ice can be removed. Numeral l2designates a snap disc whichis a device known in the art and it is adapted to snap or buckle fromone side to the other of a central plane, as is well known in the art.The disc I2 is mounted at its periphery in ring shaped mountingsasindicated at I3 which are of slightly larger diameter to allow for theincrease in circumference of the disc as it passes over its dead centerposition. Numeral I5 designates the evaporator or cooling unit of arefrigeration system, shown diagrammatically at I'I. The cooling unit I5may employ vaporizable refrigerants as in a compression system ortherefrigerant may be brine cooled below vfreezing temperature. as shownand its upper surface is shaped to conform to the surface of the underside of the disc I2 and when the disc is in its lower position, it liesfiat against the unit I5. Water supply nozzles or sprays 22 are providedaround the periphery of the disc from a supply not shown for providingwater which drains onto the disc and which is to be frozen thereon. Thedisc has a group of openings arranged in a circle, as shown at 2|, toallow excess water to drain olf the disc near its central portion andthis excess water is collected in the trough 2'I and drained E through adrain tube 28.

A vertical stem 23 is attached to the central portionof disc I2 by meansof discs 24 and 25 on opposite sides of the disc I2, and this stem canbe reciprocated as will be described, to snap the disc I2 from one ofits positions to the other.

The cooling unit I is ring shaped At its lower end the stem 25 carries adisc 38 and it has a coil spring 26 surrounding it. The spring bearsagainst this disc and against an abutment 22, normally urging the stemin a downward direction. The disc forms a follower for a cam 28 having asingle dwell and Iit is driven by a motor 35. The motor 35, iscontrolled by an electric timer 36 which energizes the motor at periodicintervals so as to rotate the cam 29 through one revolution for movingthe stem 23 and consequently the disc I2 upwardly to its oppositeposition and allowing it to come down again under the influence of thespring 26.

In operation, the unit I5 is at below freezing temperature and as thewater flows onto the disc I2, a lm of ice is formed thereon in a shortperiod of time. Upon energization of motor the disc I2 is snapped to itsupper position as described, the change in shape and conformation of thedisc necessarily causing the film of ice to be completely sheared olfthe disc. The lm of ice becomes fractured in numerous places and slidesoff the disc around its periphery and drops to the bottom of thecompartment 9 where it can be removed through the doors 8.

Various other equivalent mechanisms may be provided to actuate the discI2 as originally described, such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder orother means. The timer 36 may be of a known type, set to actuate themotor 35 at predetermined intervals to cause the ice removing action tobe performed substantially as soon as the lm of ice has been frozen onthe disc I2.

Various modifications are clearly within the realm of the invention. Forinstance, the snap disc might have a relatively large central openingwith the sprays more centrally located so as to freeze the ice film withthe disc in its upper position. The sheared olf ice would then becollected after passing through the central opening. While only a singledisc is shown, multiple discs might be employed and they might be largeor small, as desired. While a metal disc is preferred, other materialmight conceivably be employed.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, a similar insulated compartment31 is shown having therein an evaporator or freezer unit 38 connected bypipes 42 and 43 to a refrigerating or cooling system, designatedgenerally at 40. The refrigerating unit 38 has a dished or concavesurface as shown at 39 and a freezing surface or plate 48 is adjacentthis face of the refrigerating unit and is adapted and formed to beoperable to be dished or bowed so as to lie flat against the curvedsurface of the unit 38. The freezing surface 48 forms one side wall of apressure chamber 45 within which the unit 38 is disposed. Surface orplate 48 is attached to the chamber 45 by having its edge portionsengaging in a groove in the mounting flange 49 and it may be welded orotherwise sealed thereto. The plate 48 and chamber 45 are shown as beingsubstantially square in Figure 4, but it is to be under- Stood thatother shapes may be employed. The plate 48 may be a strip, for example,mounted only at two of its opposite sides, and bowed or capable of beingbowed or bulged from one extreme position t0 another. Figure 3 shows theplate 48 lying fiat against the curved surface of unit 38 and its otherposition is shown in broken lmes. The curved surface 39 of the unit38has transverse grooves or depressions 46 therein and pressure within thechamber 45 may pass into these grooves at their ends and when thepressure is sufficiently high the plate 48 will be dished or bulged inthe opposite direction to cause the film of ice frozen thereon to besheared olf as 1n the previous embodiment.

Nozzles or sprays 44 are provided to spray water on the upper part ofthe plate 38 to be frozen thereon in the form vof a film. The plate 48is.

mela-:11

5 of cou-rse;` made of a good heat comfiuctingima'rA terialsothat `heatis readily conductedthrough tiiepla-te'andto unit 38.l y

y 'At -tlie lowerIv part of the lplate V4fandlchamber 4-5`islatrough-Mito collectthe excess water flowing down the plate 48- and`this'. water may be drained off through the tube 641;

Numeral-53Idesignates'anair pump which may beL drivenb'y any convenientmeans, and cone nectedthroughe pipes 551 and 55! and through .afour-way.l vali/e154 to the'. interior.` of chamber ."45.

lThe LfourewayivalveAi has a' rotor 65A as shownl having twol' positionssuchl that'` the'. interior. of

the; chamberi 451 can be connectedxto eitherthe suction or. dischargeoftheair.pump53` (by rotatin'glmemberlB1through190). When the interior ofchambers 45fis`=connected to. the: suction of 'pump `53;` the pressurewithin. the chamber:v is reduced and'.t atmosphericipressure: on. the.exterior of the chamber. bows `the rplatei. 43l and urges it against thecurved. face'loflthe unitI 38sso as to be in good thermal contact:therewith. When .the discharge of the pump 53fis connected to theinterior ofthe chamber 45, the pressure therein is increasedsubstantially,l above atmospheric pressure and thispressureactingwithin. the grooves 43 bows or dishes the plate 48fin1theopposite direction tozits dotted line position, and the change in shapeand conformation of theplate causes the ice to be sheared off therefromand to be fractured in numerous places.A Theice. drops down and collectsin the lower partof. thecompartment 3l and may be removedthroughzfthedoor. 651v The rotor of the four-way valve 541s lconnectedto an automatic-periodictiming device 5I with the periodic intervalsdetermined in advance. It yreverses .the position of valve 54f-'andaccordingly,

the. connections to thepressurefchamber. 45'; so

asitoeffect'theice removal. action as described.The:valve.'5.4.iskeptinposition such that'the dischargeof pump. 53 isintdchamber 45'.` fora short interval longenough to'allow thepressure tobe built up in the chamber sufciently to bow plate 48 to its outwardposition. Upon the position of the valve 54 being again changed, thepressure in chamber 45 is reduced and plate 48 again assumes theposition shown in the drawing. The evacuation of the air from withinchamber 45 serves to inhibit condensation of moisture therewithin andconsequent freezing of member 48 to the surface of unit 38. Theevacuation also acts as an insulating blanket for unit 38 so that therefrigerating effect is devoted entirely to cooling the member 48 andfreezing the film of ice thereon.

The member 48 may be a relatively thin sheet of material capable ofbeing bowed as described, and it is within the comprehension of theinvention that other iiexible or deformable material be used such as arubber diaphragm or sheet.

The timing device 6| may embody a motor drive for the valve 54 or theremay be an electro-magnetic connection for changing the position of thevalve. Such devices are well-known in the art and therefore need not bedescribed in detail.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, the insulated compartment isshown at 61, having therewithin an evaporator unit 69 forming part of acompression type refrigeration system designated generally at 13. Thesystem comprises a compressor 'l5 driven by a motor 82, a condenser 16having a receiver BI, all connected in refrigerant flow relationshipwith the evaporator unit 69 as described. An expansion valve 'Il of aconventional type is provided in the refrigerant supply line.. 84'?and.' the'. suctioniline 83? may f have: a checkzvalvethereiniasishown..The evaporator -unit1169islV 0f.:relatively.smallldepthf and.' it` isAreo-:- tangular.I in cross' section as shown in Figuref, butitrmayhavevariousv otlienshapes. The :evaporator. unit' 69y has one Iside wall1 I formed of.' a relatively thin material capableof beingjdishedorbowedrfroma"concaveposition'as shown, to a convexpas shown inbrokenlines.l The. sidewall or platev'll; is attached tothe rigid' portionlofevaporator unitbyf welding., orf by rother Vmeans.` of

sealing.

Water. spraysr85l are provided' as in previous embodimentsandftrough 86Y havingV drain pipev 81 isrprovidedto. catch the'excess water drainingoh.- the plate-71; Accumulated ice may bei'.` re.- moved.- through the'-removaldoor: 91

In; thepresent embodiment, a bypassline 18fis provided-fromthe .upperpart ofthe condenser. 1B

`to the evaporator'unit anal-in this line. isia. solenoid valve19controlled by an electric timingdevice 8u. The timing device 80 is setto periodically opengthavalve `'I9 at intervals so as to admit highpressure refrigerantY gas'into -the evaporator 69. This high pressure.refrigerant bowsthe plate. or side wallfll outward causingw theiceto besheared off.` therefrom. asin previous embodiments. The valve 19iiskeptopen .onlyf long enough to` effect the .ice .removal action. andnormal refrigeration is.. then. resumed. The usual conventional lcontrois-may be. providedfor the. compressor motor 32F is desired.

'Fromthefreg-oing, those skilledin the art will observe. thatl I haveprovided. aVeryconvenient, simple and eifective machine for achieving;the desired purpose offreezing` a lm of ice. on a surfaceandthen causingit. to vbe sheared offand broken up into ypifecesand collected..

Various modifications. and alternatives f may. be practiced by thoseskilled'in theartand various eguiv'alent. devices may, be substitutedfor differentpartfs..l Itis ihtended'that.allsuchvarif ations andlmodifications and all', proper. equivalents as to the individual partsandcombin'atins force against said material at a point spaced from itssupports so as to oppositely bow said material outwardly from a planeand to thereby shear said ice off and to separate the ice from saidmaterial, said piece of material forming one side of a pressure chamberand pumping means capable of changing the pressure in said chamber frombelow to above atmospheric, the refrigeration applying means beingWithin the pressure chamber.

2. The structure of claim 1 including a timing device controlling thepumping means to effect raising of the pressure in the chamberperiodically for short intervals.

3. In apparatus of the character described, in combination a memberhaving a deformable portion adapted to be |dished, refrigeration meanshaving a cooling portion shaped to conform to the convex side of thesaid dished portion, means for applying water to the concave side of thedished portion to be frozen, and means associated with the dishedportion for applying a force substantially normal to the surface thereoffor causing the dished portion to buckle and to be dished in theopposite direction so as to cause the ice to be freed therefrom.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein the said member and the said coolingportion have relative conformations to permit access of fluid underpressure between them to effect the opposite dishing of the said member.

5. In the art of congealing liquids, the steps of, cooling a freezingzone, withdrawing air from lthe vicinity of said zone thereby to producea partial vacuum condition, utilizing said partial vacuum condition todraw a freezing surface into `said freezing zone, and changing saidpartial vacuum condition to a pressure condition whereby said freezingsurface is moved from said zone and flexed so as to remove ice from saidfreezing surface.

6. In ice making apparatus, the combination of, a rigid evaporatorpresenting a rigid refrigerated surface, a casing surrounding saidevaporator and including a flexible member positioned adjacent saidrefrigerated surface and adapted to move to and from intimate contacttherewith, and pressure changing means which is adapted to change thepressure condition along said restantially flat plane surface andforming a side wall of a pressure chamber, means for applyingrefrigeration to one side of said material, water circulating meansarranged to spray water on said material whereby it freezes and formsice thereon, and air pumping means connected to said chamber to changethe pressure therein'ln a manner to apply a force against said materialat a point spaced from its supports so as to oppositely bow saidmaterial outwardly from said plane and to thereby shear the ice free andto separate the ice from said material.

8. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a unithaving a deformable portion which is dished and has a peripheral zoneand includes means supporting said deformable portion at said peripheralzone whereby said deformable portion has its central portion adapted tomove from its dished position wherein it presents a concave freezingsurface to a deflected position wherein said freezing surface issubstantially convex, refrigeration means to cool said deformableportion and form ice thereon along the convex side of said deformableportion when it is in said dished position, means for supplying liquidto be frozen to the concave side of said deformable portion, and meansassociated with said dished deformable portion for applying a forcesubstantially normal to the surface thereof causing said disheddeformable portion to move outwardly from its dished position to saiddeflected position to remove the ice therefrom.

EDWARD C. WALSH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,451,902 Field Apr. 17, 19231,451,903 Field Apr. 17. 1923 1,482,227 Field Jan. 29, 1924 1,878,759Copeman Sept. 20, 1932 2,107,400 Stabbal Feb. i8, 1938 2,166,161 KleistJuly 18, 1939

